Nazir 11b

נזיר י״א ע״ב

Learn Nazir 11b step by step: Aramaic beside English, every question, answer and proof colour-coded.

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Topic

Why רבי שמעון rules differently in the two cases of the misunderstood נזירות; and whether a friend's 'וַאֲנִי' takes on all or part of another's vow

Overview

The amud begins by explaining why רבי שמעון seems lenient in one case of the משנה and strict in the other. The first answer is that רבי שמעון holds you are a נזיר only if you accept every prohibition. In the רישא the man accepted only part of נזירות, so he is not a נזיר. In the סיפא he accepted all of it and asked to be released from one part, so he stays a נזיר. A second answer says the argument is about נדרי אונסין. רבנן follow שמואל, who holds that such vows fall away by themselves. רבי שמעון follows רב אסי, who holds that they need a חכם. Then a new משנה teaches about two friends who each vow to be a נזיר and to pay for another נזיר's shaving. The גמרא asks whether a bare 'וַאֲנִי' takes on the whole statement or only part of it. רבא proves from the משנה's wording that it covers only becoming a נזיר. He defends this against רב הונא בריה דרב יהושע's challenge from the half-נזיר case. Finally, a new teaching of רבי יוחנן about a man and his messenger begins, and it continues on the next amud.

Opening lines

The steps (19)

1. ResolutionThe first case: he accepted only part of נזירות
2. ResolutionThe second case: he accepted everything, then asked release from one
3. ResolutionHow each side rules on releasing one part
4. ConclusionThat is why רבי שמעון forbids in the second case
5. ResolutionSecond answer: the dispute is about vows broken by forces beyond his control
6. StatementThe משנה of the four vows the Sages permitted
7. Statementרב אסי: the four vows still need a חכם
8. Challengeשמואל objects: the משנה says the חכמים already permitted them
9. Conclusionרבנן follow שמואל, רבי שמעון follows רב אסי
10. StatementNew משנה: vowing to be a נזיר and to pay for another נזיר's shaving
11. QuestionWhat if the friend only said "and me"?
12. QuestionIf only half, which half?
13. ProofThe extra words in the משנה show that 'and I' covers only half
14. QuestionAgreed it is half, but which half?
15. Response'And I' goes on the first part: becoming a נזיר
16. Rejectionרב הונא says 'and I' could cover everything
17. ProofProof from the half-נזיר case in the next משנה
18. Rejectionרבא: a משנה would not add extra words in both cases
19. StatementA new teaching begins: a man speaking to his messenger